USNS Aiken Victory (T-AP-188)

USNS "Aiken Victory" (T-AP-188) was a troop transport that served with the United States Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) during the Korean War. Prior to her MSTS service, she served under the same name as a commercial vessel.

"Aiken Victory" was laid down on 13 October 1944 at Baltimore, Maryland, by the Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyard, Inc., under a Maritime Commission contract (MCV hull 616); launched on 30 November 1944; and delivered to the Maritime Commission on 30 December 1944.

Commercial service

During World War II, "Aiken Victory" was operated by the firm Mississippi Shipping, under a contract with the Maritime Commission.

Following the end of hostilities, that company continued to operate her under contract. However, by April of 1948, she was apparently inactive for the name of no operator appears below her name in the American Bureau of Shipping Record.

MSTS service

The Navy acquired the ship on 21 July 1950 in the wake of the outbreak of hostilities in Korea the previous month. Designated T-AP-188, the ship was assigned to the Military Sea Transportation Service as a troop transport.

Operated by a civil service crew, USNS "Aiken Victory" carried troops in the Korean War combat zone for almost 30 months. Late in 1952 the transport returned to the United States and was transferred back to the Maritime Commission on 19 December 1952. She was berthed with the National Defense Reserve Fleet at Olympia, Wash. Her name was struck from the Navy list on 12 February 1953. She remained with the National Defense Reserve Fleet until 10 August 1971 at which time she was sold to American Ship Dismantlers, Inc., for scrapping.

Awards

"Aiken Victory" received eight battle stars for her Korean War service.

References

* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/a4/aiken_victory.htm USAT "Aiken Victory"] - DANFS Online.
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/22/22188.htm T-AP-188 "Aiken Victory"] , Navsource Online.